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I. REGISTRATION A. All persons who register for play in Little League must present the league with a copy of their birth certificate that the league can keep for its files. B. Only those players properly registered and who tryout will be eligible for the draft. Players who are registered and do not try out will be considered in a blind draw after the regular draft of Minor or Junior League players. C. Because the number of teams and the identity of the managers cannot be determined until registration is complete and because there is always the possibility of a redraft, Major and Senior League players who played on a team the previous year and are eligible to return to that team by league age, must still register and attend tryouts. Therefore, ALL players, including prospective managers’ children, are required to attend try-outs. D. A player requesting not to return to an established team must submit a written request to the Player Agent, expressing his/her reason for not returning. The request will then be reviewed and acted upon by the RCWLL Board.
II. TEAMS A. Major league teams will be comprised of all 11 & 12 year olds. The Senior League will be comprised of all 15 & 16 year olds. The minimum number of players per team in Major and Senior League will be determined by the Board of Directors prior to the start of the season. This approved team total will be an addendum to these rules prior to the start of the season. B. Minor league teams will be comprised of 9 and 10 year old players. The Junior League will be comprised of 13 & 14 year olds only. Prior to the start of the season, the Board of Directors will determine the total number of players per team. This approved team total will be an addendum to these rules prior to the start of the season. C. If a team is unable to field nine (9) players within ten (10) minutes after the official starting time, the team will forfeit the game. Extenuating circumstances will be considered by the Board of Directors to determine if the game should be rescheduled. D. RCWLL makes every attempt to schedule games around school functions. In the event that a game coincides with a school function, if the team can field nine players, they MUST play the game. In the event that a game coincides with a school function, if the team cannot field nine players because of said function, the manager must provide a list of players and the reason for their absence to the Player Agent at least one week prior to the game. The Board will then decide whether or not to reschedule the game. E. The number of major league teams will be determined by the formula used by Little League of number of 12 years olds divided by 8.
III. RAINOUTS, POSTPONEMENT, AND TIE GAMESA. Games will not be postponed until it is reasonably apparent that the field cannot be made ready for play. The Rose Capital West Little League Board of Directors will make this decision. Normally, this decision will be made by 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Once a decision to cancel has been made and one team manager has been notified, the decision to cancel cannot be rescinded. Umpires will have complete authority to decide on the fitness of the fields after the start of a game. Cancellations will be posted on the website or the telephone recorder. B. If a game is called before it is a regulation game (as per Official Regulation 4.10), the game shall be continued at the earliest make-up date (this rule replaces 4.10 d). The game will resume where it left off with all players in the same position, except the pitcher if in violation of the pitching rules. If a player is not present at this make-up game, the manager may make substitutions. C. All tie games will be played out if time allows, otherwise it will be considered a called game and completed under Rule III B above. D. All cancelled, suspended, incomplete or tie games scheduled during the week will be re-scheduled for the following Saturday or the next available time, whichever is sooner. A team will not be required to play more than three (3) games during any calendar week, unless required to finish the season. The Player Agent will determine Saturday game times. The Player Agent has the authority to re-schedule all cancelled, suspended, incomplete or tie games and forward this schedule to the Vice President. If the Player Agent and both managers cannot agree to a new game day and time and neither team can field nine (9) players, both teams will receive a loss pursuant to forfeiture rules, due to lack of players on game day. Games not played within eight (8) days or two (2) Saturdays of the original scheduled date will be brought to the attention of the Board.
IV. GAME TIMES AND WARM-UP TIMES A. Warm-up Times: (10 minutes for each team) 1. Visiting team - Start 30 minutes prior to game time. 2. Home team -Start 20 minutes prior to game time. B. Second Game of Night: If first games lasts over time limit, the warm-up time remaining will be split between the two teams. C. Little League 1. First game starts at 5:45 p.m. 2. No inning starts after 1 hour and 45 minutes in the 5:45 p.m. game. 3. Second game starts at 8:00 p.m. No inning starts after 1 hour and 45 minutes or 10:00 p.m.
4. If there is a second game scheduled on a field, the 5:45 p.m.
scheduled game 5. It will be the Home team manager’s responsibility to ensure that the Umpire in Chief logs a starting game time with the Official Scorekeeper. If an official game time is not logged at the start of the game, then the official starting time will be the scheduled game time.
D. Senior League 1. Teams need to consult official schedule for game time. 2. No inning starts after 2 hours and 5 minutes in the first game. 3. No inning starts after 2 hours and 5 minutes or 10:30 p.m. in the second game. 4. If there is a second game scheduled on a field, the first game will be stopped at 7:35p.m., and resumed at the earliest possible date, applying the tie game rule (III-B. If there is no second game scheduled, tie games will be played until completion or when the 10:00 curfew is reached. 5. It will be the Home team manager’s responsibility to ensure that the Umpire in Chief logs a starting game time with the Official Scorekeeper. If an official game time is not logged at the start of the game, then the official starting time will be the scheduled game time. E. All games played on Saturday or Sunday will have starting times assigned by the League.
V. GAMES A. Games will be played in accordance with the latest Little League/Senior League Official Regulations and Playing Rules as amended and clarified by these Playing Rules and as approved by the League Board. B. All Leagues will play a schedule of at least twelve (12) games in accordance with Little League Rules. C. RCWLL is a predominantly voluntary organization. All teams are required to provide umpires during the season. The Umpire Coordinator will post an umpire schedule. Failure to provide umpire(s) for assigned duty will result in a $70 fine per game, payable to RCWLL before the start of the team’s next game. If the fine is not paid before the start of the team’s next game, the manager will be suspended until the fine is paid. (*5-pitch and T-ball umpires will not be scheduled, but instead will be parent volunteers, one from each team participating in the game.)
VI. DUGOUTS A. Only uniformed players, managers, coaches and umpires shall be permitted within the confines of playing field just prior to or during games. Except for the batter, base runners, player "on deck", base coaches, and the players in the field, all players shall be in their dugouts or in the bullpen. A uniformed player will be used as a batboy. Only three adult managers or coaches may occupy the bench or dugout during a game. B. If any of the adults in the dugout are not approved by the Board, then the President, any Board Member or as a last resort, the umpire-in-chief, may give approval. Such approval will be valid for one game only, and must be brought to the attention of the opposing manager. (i.e. photographers) C. The Home team shall occupy the 1st Base dugout and the Visiting team shall occupy the 3rd base dugout at all fields. D. Complimentary dugout water coolers and cups will be made available before the first game of the night. Coaches of the first game MUST pick them up at the concession stand. Coaches of the last game of the night MUST empty them and return them to the concession stand. (*Thank you for your cooperation.)
VII. FIELDS In the event a foul ball from one playing field goes onto another field and hits a player, it shall be the umpire-in-chief's decision to stop or continue play. If play is stopped, each base runner will return to the original base and the batter will return to bat and assume the count as existed before the incident occurred. If the ball does not strike a player, the umpire shall call time-out when play in progress has been completed.
VIII. SCOREKEEPERS A. Team volunteers will keep score for all RCWLL teams. Home team scorekeeper will keep the official book. Visiting team will provide the announcer/scoreboard operator. The Official Scorekeeper MUST record 1) the game date; 2) the official game time, obtained by the home plate umpire; 3) team names; 4) player names; 5) pitch counts, per pitcher, per inning; and 6) final scores, in legible handwriting, in the scorebook provided by RCWLL. B. If a qualified scorekeeper cannot be provided, the game cannot start or be continued. The scorekeeper is responsible ONLY to the umpire-in-chief. C. The scorekeeper's integrity must be above reproach and not exhibit prejudice or show favorable treatment toward a certain player(s) or team(s). D. Each manager will furnish two courtesy line-up rosters to the umpire-in-chief before game starting time, one for the scorekeeper and one for the opposing team. E. No correction or alteration may be made in the official scorebook by a manager, coach, or official scorekeeper. If a correction is requested, a league official is to be called prior to signing the scorebook. If the problem cannot be resolved at that time, the official shall note the requested correction in the book and then get all parties involved to agree on the correction at the earliest date. Protesting manager does not have to sign the book until the correction is resolved. If the meeting does not bring about an agreed-to correction, the matter and parties will be referred to the Board of Directors. Scorekeeper shall note any protest made by a manager at this time. F. Both managers must sign the official scorebook immediately after each game. Signed scorebooks constitute acceptance of that game and no appeal will be accepted after the books are signed. If the books are not signed the night of the game by 10:50 p.m., no protest will be accepted. Signing of the scorebook does not affect any unresolved protest already noted in the scorebook.
IX. PROTEST A. No on-field protest discussion will last more than five (5) minutes. Protest will be noted on the official scorebook. B. Each protest will be
ruled on and settled at the field involved if possible. It must be done
at the point and time of the infraction, and play must not have
proceeded beyond that point. The umpire-in-chief and the opposing
managers will resolve the protest to mutual agreement. If additional
advice is needed, the umpire-in-chief may ask the help of the League
President, League Chief Umpire, C. Upon notification that a game is being played under protest, the umpire-in-chief will have the official scorebook annotated as to the exact point of the protest (inning, number of outs, existing score, name of scorekeeper, name of umpires, and protesting team). Further the umpire-in-chief will insure that the scorebook and the team game line-ups from which the scorebook line-up was created are impounded immediately following the protested game and delivered to a league official. D. The Player Agent, upon notification of an unresolved protest, will immediately request two or more members of the rules committee to investigate the protest. The vice-President may be one of the investigating members. E. The rules committee will convene to resolve protest within three (3) business days of the occurrence. F. All league officials, including scorekeepers, should and will help each manager to avoid making a decision that could cause forfeiture of a game. Forfeitures shall be avoided if at all possible.
X. MINIMUM-PLAYING RULE A. Major and Senior League minimum playing time for each player is one at bat and six (6) consecutive defensive outs in each game. RCWLL will comply with Little League rule 3.03 which states: “A player in the starting line-up who has been removed for a substitute may re-enter the game once, in any position in the batting order, provided: 1. His or her substitute has completed one time at bat and; 2. Has played defensively for a minimum of six (6) consecutive outs; 3. Pitchers once removed from the mound may not return as pitchers; Junior/Senior/Big League-A pitcher remaining in the game, but moving to a different position, can return as a pitcher any time in the remainder of the game, but only once in the same inning as he/she was removed. 4. Only a player in the starting line-up may re-enter the game. The minimum-playing rules for the Minor League and Junior League are set out below in XI and XII. 5. A starter, (S1) re-entering the game as a substitute for another starter (S2), must then fulfill all conditions of a substitute (once at bat and six (6) consecutive defensive outs) before starter (S2) can re-enter the game. B. Special reference shall be made in the official scorebook by the official scorekeeper of any violation of the minimum playing rules. C. If any manager violates the minimum playing rules, the losing manager may, if the outcome of that game should determine the league championship or which team will go into post-season tournament play, elect to protest that night and notations will be made in the official scorebook. The choice of exercising this option must be made in writing to the Player Agent within 24 hours after such determination becomes evident and shall be scheduled at the earliest convenient date. The entire game will be re-played. D. It shall not be considered a violation of the minimum playing rule if a game has been called due to the time limit or due to an incomplete game (weather, lights, etc.). If all regular innings are completed and a player does not meet the rulebook requirements, then that player must be a starter in the next game, meeting last game's unfinished requirements as well as the current game's requirements. For Senior League, if a player does not meet the rulebook requirements, then that player must start the next game and must play a minimum of nine (9) outs and three (3) times at bat. If a manager violates the minimum-playing rule, the offending manager will for the first offense, receive a written warning; for the second offense, receive a suspension for the next scheduled game; and for the third offense, receive a suspension for the remainder of the season. Note 1: if the violation is determined to have been intentional, the Board of Directors may assess a more severe penalty. However, forfeiture of a game may not be invoked. Note 2: There is no exception to this rule unless the game is shortened for any reason, at which time the Local League may elect not to impose a penalty on the manager. E. For purposes of this rule, if the last half of the last inning is not required to be played due to the home team having the lead, such half-inning will count as three (3) defensive outs for the visiting team and the next three (3) scheduled batters for the home team will be considered as having batted. F. 1. The manager must remove the pitcher when said pitcher reaches the limit for his/her age group as noted below, but the pitcher may remain in the game at another position:
League Age 17 - 18 105 pitches per day 13 - 16 95 pitches per day 11- 12 85 pitches per day 10 and under 75 pitches per day Exception: If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until that batter reaches base or is put out. 2008: The “automatic” intentional walk was removed. If a pitcher wishes to intentionally walk a batter, he/she must do so by pitching four pitches intentionally outside the strike zone that are not struck at by the batter, and are called “balls” by the umpire. All such pitches will count in determining that pitcher’s pitch count. 2. Pitchers league age 16 and under must adhere to the following rest requirements: · If a player pitches 61 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendars days of rest plus ONE GAME must be observed. (Modified for 2008). · If a player pitches 41-60 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest plus ONE GAME must be observed. (Modified for 2008). · If a player pitches 21-40 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed. · If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar days of rest must be observed. 2008: Any player that pitches one or more pitches may not play the position of catcher for the remainder of the game. 3. Pitchers league age 17-18 must adhere to the following rest requirements: · If a player pitches 76 or more pitches in a day, three (3) calendar days of rest plus ONE GAME must be observed. (Modified for 2008). · If a player pitches 51-75 pitches in a day, two (2) calendar days of rest plus ONE GAME must be observed. (Modified for 2008). · If a player pitcher 26-50 pitches in a day, one (1) calendar day of rest must be observed. · If a player pitches 1-25 pitches in a day, no (0) calendar days of rest must be observed. 4. It is the responsibility of the manager to know how many pitches his pitcher has thrown, and to relieve him before he violates any of the aforementioned rules. 5. A player who has attained the league age of twelve (12) is not eligible to pitch in the Minor League. G. Violating the regular season pitch count regulation can be protested in accordance with Rule 4.19 in the Little League Rule book. And, as with all regular season games, the local league (by action of the local league Board of Directors, through the Protest Committee) resolves all protests. The local league Protest Committee could decree a forfeit, or not, as it sees fit. The Board of Directors will invoke a one (1) game suspension upon the manager for the first offense, a two (2) game suspension for the second offense and if there is a third offense, the manager will be suspended for the rest of the season.
XI. MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS A. Minor league teams shall conform to the same rules and regulations as Major league teams with the exceptions contained herein. B. Minor league team batting orders will consist of a complete roster of all players present for each game. All players will bat in consecutive order regardless of whether or not they are playing in the field. No player may enter the game after all players present have batted. C. Each player on the
roster that is present must play at least six (6) consecutive defensive
outs or two defensive innings. (See Little League Rule 3.03) D. Teams will adhere to the "5-run" rule. (i.e., a team's at bat will be over when three (3) outs are made or when five (5) runs have been scored, whichever occurs first.) No team can score more than five (5) runs per inning. E. Coaches WILL NOT be allowed to warm up pitchers at anytime before or during games. (See Little League Rule 3.09.) F. The ten (10) run Mercy Rule is NOT in effect in the Minors. The game will be called when the five (5) run limit per inning makes it impossible for the losing team to tie or take the lead.
XII. JUNIOR LEAGUE TEAMS A. Junior League teams will play under the same rules as Senior League teams, except for roster number, which shall be no more than sixteen (16) players. B. If a player does not meet the minimum playing requirements of one at bat and six (6) consecutive defensive outs per game, then that player must start the next game and play until he/she has fulfilled the requirements of the last game and the requirements of the current game. (See Little League Rule 3.03) C. Teams will adhere to a 5-run rule for the first four (4) innings when playing teams within the West boundaries. Such rule may be imposed with any other team, if the opposing team agrees, i.e., a team's at-bat will be over when three (3) outs are made or when five (5) runs have been scored, whichever occurs first. No team can score more than five (5) runs per inning in the first four (4) innings. D. Coaches WILL NOT be allowed to warm up pitchers at anytime before or during games. (See Little League Rule 3.09.)
XIII. EQUIPMENT / UNIFORMS A. Male catchers must wear a cup and supporter and will not be allowed to play without both. All catchers must wear protective helmets with dangling throat protectors. Hockey style helmets require an additional dangling throat protector. B. The League will provide Batting helmet face guards for any player requesting one; however, the use of them is not mandatory. Use of the face guards can help prevent eye and face injuries. C. Little League Rule 1.16 states: “Manufacturers have advised that altering helmets in any way can be dangerous. Altering the helmet in any form, including painting or adding decals (by anyone other than the manufacturer or authorized dealer) may void the helmet warranty. Helmets may not be re-painted and may not contain tape or re-applied decals unless approved in writing by the helmet manufacturer or authorized dealer.D. RCWLL requires solid gray uniform pants; no piping allowed. Players are required to wear uniform shirts and caps provided by RCWLL.XIV. ALL-STARSThe Regional Little League Coordinator determines the number of All Star teams in each division. The RCWLL Board will determine the number of players per All Star team. The following groups will be submitted ballots and instructed to vote on whom they feel are the best fourteen players: Group 1 -- Players Group 2 -- Team Managers (1) Group 3 -- Team Coaches (1) Each group will then submit its list of the top fourteen (14) players at a meeting of the counting committee selected from the Board of Directors. Each player on each group's list will be given one (1) vote, with each player having a maximum possible vote of three (3). When one (1) or more players has an equal number of votes to qualify for the last position or positions, final selection should be made by majority vote of the Board of Directors at the time of the meeting. All groups should be cautioned that the roster should include sufficient pitching strength to meet tournament schedules, and that candidates should be selected on their playing ability and nothing more. The same process shall be followed for Senior League AII-Stars ages fourteen (14) and fifteen (15). *Ten (10) year old players, who participate in Major League during the regular season, will be voted on by the Board of Directors as to whether they should or should not be placed on the nine (9) and ten (10) year old All-Star team. The remaining spots should be filled with nine (9) and ten (10) year old players participating in the Minor League by the same method as in the Major League. In each age division, the coach with the highest winning percentage record at the conclusion of the Regular Season and approved by the Board of Directors will be the Manager for the All-Star Team in that division. Replacement players and/or coaches on the All Star teams must be coordinated through the Player Agent and approved by the RCWLL Board.
XV. DRAFT A. The managers in the Majors division must keep in mind that they can select only eight (8) players that are twelve (12) years of age (16 years of age for Senior League). Managers shall NOT draft more eleven (11) year olds (15 year olds in Senior League) than they will be able to retain as 12 year-olds (16 year olds in Senior League) in the following season. In each division, the older players will be drafted first. When the older player draft pool has been depleted, the younger players will then be drafted. B. In the event a new team is formed in the Senior or Major League for whatever reason, the new manager will be able to initially select four (4) players (Major: two 11-year olds and two 12-year olds / Senior: two 15-year olds and two 16-year olds). If the manager has a son or daughter, then their protection will count in the four (4) that are protected for the new team. The manager will then draft last in the first round of the regular draft and all succeeding rounds. If more than one (1) new team is formed in Senior or Major League, the new teams will flip a coin to see who selects first. Teams will then select four (4) players each in alternating picks. After each new team has its four (4) base players, the teams will then draft last in the same order as determined by coin flip in each round of regular draft. For Senior League only: With the agreement of the managers and the Board’s approval, this process may be modified. C. Majors and Seniors: The last place team of the preceding season gets the first choice in every round of the draft, the next to last place team gets the second choice in every round, and the remaining teams select in the reverse order of standing. If two (2) or more teams completed the previous season with identical records, then for drafting purposes, the tie(s) will be broken as follows: First: Best record of the teams against each other. Second: Coin flip D. If, for some reason provided by Little League Rules, the Majors division must redraft all of the teams, the managers, or their representatives, will draw numbers to determine who will select the first player. The manager who draws number one makes the first choice; number two makes the second choice, etc. The sequence for drafting in each even-numbered round will be in reverse order. The following is an example of the drafting order for a four- (4) team league: 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc ... To help clarify, the manager who draws number one (1) makes the following draft selections: 1st, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, 24th, 25th, etc. The manager who draws number three (3) makes the following draft selections: 3rd, 6th, 11th, 14th, 19th, 22nd, 27th, 30th, etc. E. If, during the period between the last game of the preceding season and the draft for the current season, a player is removed from a team at the request of the parents or manager and with approval of the Board of Directors, that player must go through the draft and can be drafted by any team except the team he/she was removed from. However, the team from which the player was removed shall be compensated by getting an extra draft choice in the same round in which the player it lost is chosen by a new team. This extra draft choice will be exercised immediately following the selection of the player lost. If the team losing the player has a low number of draft choices (3 for example) and the player lost is not chosen before that team reaches its last choice, then the team losing the player cannot use this extra draft choice until that player is chosen. All draft choices must be age appropriate. E. Brothers and Sisters 1. Managers may submit an option on brothers and/or sisters of the same age, becoming candidates who are subject to draft. When the first brother or sister is drafted and an option has been submitted, the manager automatically takes the brother or sister on the next turn. 2. A manager may also submit an option on a draftee if the youngster's brother or sister is a member of that manager's team. This option must be exercised within the first three age appropriate draft selections. 3. If parents insist that brother and/or sister play on the same team, then the managers will be notified BEFORE the draft. F. Sons and/or Daughters of Managers NOTE: Same provisions below apply for managers having brothers or sisters of eligible age. 1. A manager who has sons and/or daughters eligible for the draft who wishes to draft them must state so in writing to the Player Agent prior to the draft. If so stated, the parent-manager is required to exercise this option prior to the close of the specific draft round depending on the league age of the son and/or daughter. Parent-manager options take priority over any other option. Sons and/or Daughters AgeT-Ball 5-Pitch Minors Majors Junior League Senior League Draft Round (age appropriate) 5 6 & 7 8 & 9 10 & 11 12 & 13 14 & 15 3 6 8 10 12 14 16 3 2. If the manager so chooses, the option on son or daughter may be waived. 3. If managers have twin sons or daughters and choose to exercise the option for them, they will be drafted as follows: T-Ball 5-Pitch Minors Majors Junior League Senior League Draft Round (age appro.) 5 6 & 7 8 & 9 10 & 11 12 & 13 14 & 15 3 & 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 3 & 4 sp;
4. Parents of Major/Senior League players who become managers after their child has been selected to a Major/Senior League team may NOT automatically claim their child, but must TRADE for them at the proper time.
G. RCWLL does NOT recognize assistant coach freezes!
XVI. DRAFT –T-BALL, 5-PITCH, MINOR LEAGUE AND JUNIOR LEAGUE A. The managers, or their representatives, will draw numbers to determine who will select the first player. The manager who draws number one makes the first choice; number two makes the second choice, etc. The sequence for drafting in each even-numbered round will be in reverse order. The following is an example of the drafting order for a four- (4) team league: 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc ... To help clarify, the manager who draws number one (1) makes the following draft selections: 1st, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, 24th, 25th, etc. The manager who draws number three (3) makes the following draft selections: 3rd, 6th, 11th, 14th, 19th, 22nd, 27th, 30th, etc. B. Players whose league age is 15 or 16 are eligible for Senior League play. The Junior League shall be made up of players whose league age is 13 and 14. The Board of Directors may review any exceptions on their own individual merits, if necessary.
XVII. PLAYOFFS AND CHAMPIONSHIPSIf at the end of the season, two (2) or more teams are tied for the league championship, then the winner will be determined as follows: 1. Head to Head 2. Run Ratio (Runs Scored/Runs Allowed); highest percentage wins. 3. Coin toss. *If three (3) or more teams are tied and no team is a clear cut winner in Head to Head competition, then Rule 2 and then Rule 3 will be applied, in that order
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